A full EuroTrash bag of cycling news to sift through this Monday morning. We open with the Vuelta ’14, then the Australian & New Zealand national road champs and the Belgian cross champs, plus more teams and riders for the Tour Down Under and San Luis. Throw in a selection of video and that should get you started on a new week. Coffee anyone?

TOP STORY: 2014 Vuelta a España
The Vuelta a España organisers, Unipublic, unveiled the route of the 69th edition on Saturday in the Palacio de Congresos in Cádiz. The Spanish Grand Tour kicks off with a 12.6 kilometre team time trial in Jerez de la Frontera, from there the race takes in four flat stages until stage 6 to La Zubia with the climb to Cumbres Verdes. Stage 8 is the longest of the race at 207 kilometres to Albacete. From there the Pyrenees are bypassed on the way to the North coast and the climbs in Asturias and Galicia for a torturous final ten days.

Following the hilly 34.5 kilometre time trial in Zaragoza the race enters the decisive hilly section with climbs in the Picos de Europa and stages to La Camperona, Lagos de Covadonga, Farrapona, Monte Castrove and finishing the climbing on stage 20 up the very steep Ancares. The final stage is a time trial in Santiago de Compostela. A more in-depth analysis of the 2014 Vuelta a España soon on PEZ.

Comments:
Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo): “I think it has followed the format of recent years, which is what gives spectacle and what people want. The balance is in favour of the pure climbers. It is true that there are many uphill finishes, especially if we think on the bonuses, which assumed great importance in recent years. Concerning the time trials, in the first (TTT) there will be not many differences, the second also favours climbers , because it starts with a climb and that will cause minimal differences, and the final is only 10 kilometres long, but can always help if you are in need of a few seconds. You never know.”

“If I have legs, of course I like it. You must be aware that it will be my second big tour after the Tour de France, that I want to do at hundred percent. For me it is unknown what my performance will be in the Vuelta after riding the Tour.”

“It is even harder from the point of view that it has many finishes that are even longer than those in 2012 and that encourages me because it’s not as explosive, because riders with more explosives can always take time on me in a kilometre with a huge percentage … but it all depends on the legs you have.

Alejandro Valverde (Movistar): “Maybe it’s a bit less hard but the Vuelta is always difficult, it’s the riders who make a race tough, more than the route itself. I don’t know the Aralar (stage 11 finish) climb, but it’s clearly very hard. Overall there are a lot of shorter, punchy climbs, which will make it difficult, even without the Pyrenees. I don’t think the final time trial will cause any changes, unless there’s a 15 or 20 second gap between two of the top riders’ placing. On paper it should all be decided.”

Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha): “I hope to be there to make war and enjoy la Vuelta as I have done every year I’ve ridden it in my career. I’ll try to be on the podium and give the greatest possible happiness to all.”

Double stage winner in the 2013 Vuelta, Warren Barguil (Argos?-Shimano): “There’s less media pressure at the Vuelta and fewer French journalists so for a young rider it could be better there for that reason. But there are lots of factors. I like the Vuelta too, a lot. I know I’ve got good memories of this race. I can do well there on the climbs and the route is a tough one again. There’s not too much time trialling and there are stages which finish after a tough climb and a descent, which is really good for me. Ok, so there’s no Pyrenees, where I did well last year, but there’s still a lot of climbing. And I want to confirm what I managed to achieve last year and prove it wasn’t a fluke.”

Mario Aerts, Lotto Belisol sports director: “The course is less spectacular and tough than the previous two editions. The riders won’t be heading into the high mountains, like was the case last year in Andorra. Of course this doesn’t mean it’s easy, it always goes up and down in Spain. Again it isn’t a Vuelta for sprinters, I only see four sprint opportunities. Probably few teams will bring a top sprinter and that diminishes the chances even more.”

“The final week is the toughest; it actually begins the penultimate Saturday with the fourteenth stage. The GC can change until the last day. For Maxime Monfort it’s a very good course. The time trial after the first rest day also contains a climb that definitely suits him. According to me the differences between the first riders won’t be very big. It’s also an advantage for Monfort that the mountains aren’t too high.”

Fernando Escartín technical director commented on the stage 1 TTT: “It is a technical time trial because it is a circuit in the city. The first part touches the old quarter in the first three or four kilometres and also has some cobblestones. From there the avenues are wide for 12 kilometres, there will be big differences.”

Belgian Cyclo-cross Men’s National Championships 2014
Sven Nys (Crelan-AA Drink) took his ninth Belgian national title on Sunday in Waregem, he made his move half way through the race and won by 33 seconds from Rob Peeters (Vastgoedservice-Golden Palace) and 40 seconds from Bart Wellens (Telenet-Fidea). Niels Albert (BKCP-Powerplus) and Klaas Vantornout (Sunweb-Napoleon) didn’t finish; Albert crashed and the defending champion Vantornout abandoned around half way.

Once Sven Nys attacked through the sandpit he was never seen again till the finish, Peeters and Wellens fought it the podium places until Peeters dropped Wellens on the last lap. The World champion said on sporza after the finish: “I had a really good day, like I have been having for three weeks now. I felt on the first passage of the sandpit that I was good. I wanted to start the sandpit fresh every lap and succeeded. My ninth title is not the same as the first title but I am really proud. That I can do this at my age is a miracle. To be able to give the supporters and sponsors this at my age is great.”

Australian Men’s National Road Race 2014
Simon Gerrans is the new Australian National Road Champion after taking a dominant victory in the elite men’s road race ahead of Cadel Evans (BMC) and Richie Porte (Sky). Gerrans sealed the third consecutive title for the ORICA-GreenEDGE team, winning a sprint finish from the final group of four. Cameron Meyer led the select group to the line and ultimately finished in fourth, after working tirelessly to set Gerrans up for the win.

ORICA-GreenEDGE looked in control and comfortable throughout the 183.6 kilometre Buninyong circuit, putting each of their ten riders to use in controlling the race. It was defending champion Luke Durbridge who launched the first attack of the day, just moments after the start. The main breakaway of 17 riders quickly formed with Simon Clarke and Mitch Docker joining Durbridge up the road.

Simon Clarke animated the action in the break, making repeated attempts to get away solo over the Mount Buninyong climb. After four hours of fast and aggressive racing, time ran out for Clarke and the break began to disintegrate.

With four laps left to race, ORICA-GreenEDGE quickly moved to the front and began to reel back the break. An ominously fresh-looking Gerrans was tucked safely in the group. Of the 139 riders that took the start, the chasing peloton had whittled down to 32 ahead of the final two laps.

On the long sloping lead-in to the final ascent of Mount Buninyong, Meyer launched an attack. Gerrans, quickly followed with Evans and Porte in pursuit.

“I wanted the guys to set a fast pace to keep it together going into the bottom section of the climb, so that I could attack towards the top,” explained Gerrans. “There was already quite a small, select group left by the time we got to the last ramp of the climb, and there was some foxing going on. Cam had slipped off the front a little bit, and then I attacked in the final few hundred metres of the climb to really try to get rid of the other contenders. We got over one by one: myself, then Cadel, then Cam, then Richie. Over the top, the four of us came together again, and that’s how it stayed until the finish.”

With a two-man advantage over the final group of four heading into the finish, Gerrans and Meyer played on their strength in numbers to keep the group together for the sprint.

“The guys did exactly what they had to do today,” said Gerrans. “I stuck to my guns in the finish- I knew I had good legs and as long as that little group stayed together I was confident I could finish it off. Cam fully committed. He really rode his guts out for me today. I’m sure he would have liked the chance to win himself today, but the plan was to work for me and he did that 100 percent. The whole team gave it everything for me today and I’m really grateful for that.”

Having repeatedly won from similar scenarios over the past two years, Gerrans enjoyed the full support of his team on Sunday. With his proven ability to deliver wins when the team needs them most, Gerrans is an obvious choice as team leader for the races he states as his objectives.

It is the third consecutive road title for ORICA-GreenEDGE, in as many attempts. Gerrans will head to Europe in the coveted green and gold jersey for the second time in his career. His first win came at the beginning of the 2012 season, and set in motion one of the best years of the Victorian’s career, in which he took a memorable victory at Milan San Remo.

“It’s such an honour to take the jersey,” said Gerrans. “It was such a class field today and it means a lot to me to take this jersey to Europe for another season. It started a really good year for me in 2012, so I’ll try to keep this momentum going and get some big wins coming in over in Europe this year too.”

Cadel Evans (BMC) was second and had this to say: “When there is a jersey up for grabs like at the world championships, I’ve been second at the Tour, second at the worlds, and now second at the road national championships,” Evans said. “It’s either a jersey or nothing for me as far as I’m concerned. But I am still happy because it’s gone better than I expected, that’s for sure.” For Evans, who is participating in his first national road race championships since 2005, the result is a personal best. For the first time in his career he is standing on the podium at his national road race championships.Thanks to Orica-GreenEdge and BMC team’s for the race info.

Australian Woman’s National Road Race 2014
Defending road champion Gracie Elvin took back-to-back road titles in Ballarat at the Mars Cycling Australia National Road Championships on Saturday. ORICA-AIS perfectly executed a plan that played to the team’s strengths in numbers amongst a strong, deep elite women’s field. Elvin outsprinted a lead group of nine riders that included teammates Shara Gillow and Amanda Spratt, to claim gold.

“I’m really proud to be part of this team,” said Elvin. “I want to dedicate this jersey to all my teammates. I’m really happy to race along side of them. We did a great job today, and I can’t wait to race with them in Europe all season. Winning last year was a surprise,” Elvin added. “This year, I really, really wanted it. I put a lot of pressure on myself. Even though I probably shouldn’t have, it was hard not to. I was nervous this morning but also quite confident.

Elvin would have happily supported any of her teammates should they have found themselves in a position to claim the green and gold jersey. While the team had a clear approach to the race, there was no outright leader.“We weren’t riding for one particular person today,” noted Elvin. “We were putting all our cards on the table and supporting whoever played the right card. I drew the winning card again today.”

The first half of the ten lap, 102 kilometre race was a fairly quiet affair. Lisa Jacobs (VIS) launched an attack the first time up Mount Buninyong and quickly went to work building her lead. By the start of lap four, Jacobs had put in 2’23 on the field. When Bridie O’Donnell attempted to jump across to Jacobs, ORICA-AIS went on the offensive.

Following the sixth ascent of Mount Buninyong, MacLean had made contact with O’Donnell. The two chasers worked together to eat into Jacobs’ lead. Although they came close to catching Jacobs, they were swallowed up by the peloton before they were able to shut down the move completely.

Elvin countered the catch. As the peloton neared the top of the two kilometre climb, she put in an attack. “We weren’t too worried when Lisa got away although she probably built up a bigger advantage by the half-way point than we would have liked,” explained Elvin. “When her lead approached four minutes, that’s when we started to get ready to go. Everyone pitched in. We executed our plan very well. The pace increased on that sixth lap,” continued Elvin. “I could see the stronger riders starting to apply pressure. As we crested the climb, I saw a good moment, and I took advantage of it. Everyone had just sat up to assess who was still there. The pace slowed, and I put my cards on the table earlier than I had wanted. It was a bit of a gamble, but it felt right.”

Elvin successfully bridge across to Jacobs inside the final three laps. The two leaders enjoyed a short-lived brief advantage over the peloton before they were overtaken just before the start of the penultimate lap. The constant attacks and the hill climb repeats had successfully softened up the bunch. Only 12 riders remained in contention inside the final 20 kilometres. ORICA-AIS had managed to keep three riders in the lead group – Elvin, Gillow and Spratt. On the last lap, Spratt escaped, but was caught right at the top of the climb.

“While Spratty was dangling off the front, I was dangling just off the back of the first five or six girls in the first half of the last time up the climb,” explained Elvin. “I could see Spratty in the distance. On the second, steeper part of the climb, there was a flat crosswind, and that’s when I really started to suffer. I couldn’t hold the wheel in front of me, and I got dropped. I dug deep to try to catch back on, but I couldn’t do it.”

Elvin wasn’t the only rider to lose contact with the front group. Lauren Kitchen (Hitec Products UCK) was struggling to hold on as well. “Lauren and I got dropped nearly at the same time,” said Elvin. “She had no teammates in the race, so she was in a very different situation than my own. I didn’t want to work because I didn’t want to chase my teammates, but I really wanted to make it back to leaders. I made a second gamble in letting Lauren ride across the gap on her own. Luckily, she was strong enough to do it.”

Elvin rejoined the front group on the descent off Mount Buninyong. Back with the leaders, the defending champion turned her attention to the sprint. “Shara, Spratty and I marked the stronger riders before the sprint,” Elvin explained. “I was trying not to get too excited and make the mistake of opening my sprint early. Katrin Garfoot was my biggest worry,” Elvin added. “I considered her the best sprinter in the group. I also didn’t look past our former teammate Tiff Cromwell (Specialized-lululmeon). She’s got some good form, and I would never count her out of a small group sprint”.

Elvin’s patience rewarded her handsomely it delivered her across the line first and into another year in the green and the gold. Kitchen secured the silver medal ahead of Garfoot in third. “The win is massive,” said Bates. “This is what we came here to achieve. To take the jersey back to Europe with us makes us really proud. Gracie gets to wear the jersey but it’s reflective of a perfectly executed race by the whole team.”Thanks to the Orica-AIS team for race info.

New Zealand Men’s National Road Race 2014
Trek Factory Racing’s Hayden Roulston has won the first ever race for the new WorldTour team by outsprinting Jack Bauer of Garmin-Sharp and triathlete Tom Davison, a surprise third. The battle for New Zealand’s National Road Champion came down to these three men after a gruelling 183.7-kilometer race of attrition that saw only 16 finishers from 72 starters. In the end Roulston had enough left to outkick his two breakaway partners, all clearly showing fatigue of a hard, tough battle.

“The race was very, very tough. It was a war of attrition out there,” Roulston explained. “I wasn’t feeling super today but I was definitely strong. Coming to the finish it was just a sprint between me and Jack Bauer and I beat him to the line. I am super happy!”

The course, uniquely set within the city streets of Christchurch, consisted of 12 laps of 15.6-kilometers with one significant hill for 10 of the laps. The power climb suited Roulston’s strengths – 1.5 kilometres in length with a gradient of 8 percent – and coupled with the extreme windy conditions, plus an aggressive start that saw an early break escape, the race turned into a death march. Unlike years past Roulston did not wait until the end before making a blistering attack that shattered the peloton. At the 40-kilometer mark he decided it was time, and with the help of Teammate Jesse Sergent made the move that left last year teammate George Bennett, now a rival with team Cannondale, behind in the chase group. However pre-race favourite Jack Bauer was attentive and made the split that would eventually become the race winning lead group of seven riders.

“I decided to go early because you are never guaranteed to claw the break back especially if you don’t have a team. Jesse [Sergent] did a great, great job – he played a huge part in the race to make that break happen. It was a crosswind section and I knew even though we had 130 kilometres to race that if we went now we could get across to the front break. He did a five minute turn in the cross wind, and he did the whole thing himself, and got us across to the front group. It was just a great effort by him and after that his day was done.”

The lead group eventually whittled down to five, and then to three, a result of a few hard attacks by Roulston on the Dyers Pass climb. By the last two laps it was apparent the trio was tired, and it was going to be who ever had any legs left that would win the title.

“It was such a hard, hard day,” continued Roulston. “I averaged 310 watts for over four and half hours. That’s a massive day in Europe let alone in New Zealand. We were all wondering with 40 kilometres to go if we would even make it to the finish it was that brutal of a race. I did not worry about taking the lead at the end for the sprint because at the end of a race like that everyone is in a bad boat.”

It was a tough day, but one that clearly suited Roulston, and in the end the strongest pair of legs notched the inaugural win for the newest World Tour team.

Horner has new Representative
Still without a team, 2013 Vuelta a España winner Chris Horner has changed from his previous agent; Michael Rutherford to Baden Cooke. As from the first of January 2014 Cooke has been phoning around teams trying negotiate a last minute deal for his ex-team mate from the Mercury team of 2000 and 2001. Cooke, as yet, is not a UCI registered agent and so is working for free, he is also representing some young Australian riders.

Vincenzo Nibali and Astana ready to debut in the Tour de San Luis
The Italian champion, fresh off the presentation with his team in Brescia (Italy), will make his 2014 debut on the roads of the San Luis, with the Tour de France as his goal. His General Manager, Alexander Vinokourov, is also on board with the rider’s strategy. These last few days he has excluded the possibility that Nibali, even though he is the outgoing champion, will participate in the next Giro d’Italia. “The objective of the Tour de France is too important for us,” says Alexander Vinokourov. “But at the Giro we will line up an ambitious team, with Michele Scarponi, who is determined to capture the final podium, and Fabio Aru, who could take the white jersey for the best young rider as he gains some important experience for the future.”

“The start of our 2014 calendar begins at the Tour de San Luis in Argentina, it’s a remarkable race in January” said Vincenzo Nibali “the weather is dry and sunny, the fans are friendly and the level of competition is among the best in the world. We came last year to prepare for the Giro d’Italia and found success, and we are coming this year to prepare for the Tour de France with the same ambitions.”

Gorazd Stangelj, Astana sport director in Argentina: “Nibali, Scarponi, Landa, Kangert, Kessiakoff, Vanotti – these are our riders for the Tour de San Luis and each one is a great champion. When they take the start in Argentina they begin 2014 in the best possible fashion, because the organizers have built a race that is challenging, exciting and among the most fan-friendly in the world.”

Belkin Team is Ready for the First Race
The Belkin Pro Cycling Team kicks off its 2014 season with the Tour Down Under, January 21 to 26. Robert Gesink leads the team that includes three Australians.

Gesink, who has been doing well overseas in recent years with victories in Quebec and Montreal, looks forward to starting his season in Australia for the first time. “Australia really fascinates me,” Gesink said, “so it’s nice to start my year there.” Gesink spent most of the past few months in Girona, where he has an apartment. He was able to train on and test his new Bianchi bike in the mountains. He added, “It was a good winter.”

The Tour Down Under has a similar course as last year’s event and that means it will be a tough race. “Normally, though, it suits me”, Gesink said. “Also, our team has three Australians: Jack Bobridge, Graeme Brown and David Tanner. They’ve done the race before and know the roads.” Stef Clement, Rick Flens and Bram Tankink complete the seven-man squad.

Sports Director Erik Dekker said his team is ready for the first race of the season. “The batteries are fully charged again and training has been without any problems,” Dekker added. “The Tour Down Under team riders began their training early this winter. During the training camps they had a more demanding program. Graeme rode the Rotterdam Six-Day last week so he has been working on his intensity. The others have done the same during their training rides. We have done our homework.”

The Tour Down Under starts January 21 but kicks off two days earlier with an unofficial criterium, the People’s Choice Classic on January 19.Thanks to the Belkin Team.

Santos Tour Down Under 2014 / Tour de San Luis 2014
Russian WorldTour Katusha Team is preparing to open its 6th cycling season. In just ten days Katusha will come to the start line of the first races in 2014: on January 20th the Russian team will start the 2.1 America Tour race Tour de San Luis in Argentina, while on January 21st Katusha will begin its way on Australian roads of the UCI WorldTour race Santos Tour Down Under.

“We want to make a very good start of the season in the WorldTour race in Australia as well as in Argentina,” said Katusha’s head sports director José Azevedo. “These are high-level competition races, so it means that results are important. It is our responsibility to show our colours. We cannot consider races as training. Of course some riders have goals later in the season, but be assured, in our first races Katusha is ambitious.”

The Tour de San Luis, a famous Argentinean stage race, will be held from January 20th to 26th. The race will consist of 7 stages with 3 uphill finishes and one individual time trial for 19,2 km.

The Santos Tour Down Under, which traditionally opens the UCI WorldTour calendar, will be held from January 21st to 26th. The race will have 6 stages with 2 uphill finishes. In addition, 2 days before, on January 19th, all teams with take part in the traditional opener, the 50km criterium People’s Choice Classic.

Belgian Cycling Project
In 2008, a Belgian native Dany Blondeel was adamant that young Irish cyclists would benefit from experiencing the progressive, intense racing in his homeland. Having witnessed how the Belgian racing system gave cyclists progressive steps and exposure to the professional ranks, they formed The Belgian Project.

We decided to raise some extra funds to assist the organisation and produced The (stunning) Belgian Project Scarf.

This versatile multifunctional headscarf can be worn as a headband, wristband, mask, hair-band, balaclava, scarf, scrunchie, beanie and bandana. Constructed from a single piece of tubular woven microfibre, it has a highly elastic 4 way stretch Polyester which allows it to be moulded into many shapes and styles without feeling compressive.

100%of the sale funds go DIRECT to the Belgian Project. Galibier is paying for production, postage and Vat. The income the project gains from the sale will go to pay for flights and expenses for the riders to assist with their dream of becoming a professional cyclist.”

Pinarello: Double Tour Winners
Nick Glass explores the science behind the ultra-light carbon framed Pinarello bikes used by the last two winners of Tour de France. Great video by CNN.

The PEZ NEWSWIRE!
Don’t forget to check the “NEWSWIRE” section, you can find it down the right hand side on the home page, just above the EuroTrash section. The bits of news that missed the EuroTrash deadline are in there, plus any news as-it-happens will be added there too.